About Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular on your Apple Watch

Learn about Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for your Apple Watch and how your watch uses both. And how cellular on Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) and Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) fits in.

To enjoy every feature on your Apple Watch, you need to turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your paired iPhone. Open Control Center on your iPhone, then make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on.

Your Apple Watch uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to communicate with your paired iPhone. If you have cellular, your watch can also stay connected through a cellular network. Your watch switches between these intelligently to choose the most power-efficient connection. Here's how:

Choose a Wi-Fi network

Turn Wi-Fi off or on

Touch and hold the bottom of the screen.

Wait for Control Center to show, then swipe up.

Tap . The icon will dim and your device will disconnect from any network that you're connected to.

Only Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) and Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) can disconnect from Wi-Fi networks. After you disconnect, your Apple Watch won't automatically re-join the Wi-Fi network that you disconnected from until you do one of these things:

You turn on Wi-Fi in Control Center.

You walk or drive to a new location.

It's 5:00 a.m. local time.

You restart your device.

Use a cellular network

Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) and Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) can connect to cellular. With a cellular connection, you can make calls and use data or apps when you don’t have your iPhone or Wi-Fi. Learn how to add your Apple Watch to your cellular plan.

Check your signal strength

Touch and hold the bottom of the screen.

Wait for Control Center to show, then swipe up.

Check the Cellular button.

The Cellular button turns green when you have a connection. The green dots show the signal strength.

The Cellular button turns white when your cellular plan is active, but your Apple Watch is connected to your iPhone or Wi-Fi.

Turn cellular on or off

Touch and hold the bottom of the screen.

Wait for Control Center to show, then swipe up.

Tap , then turn off Cellular.

Some apps might not update without a connection to your iPhone.

Check the connection between your iPhone and Apple Watch

Check your watch face. If you see or on the watch face, you don't have a connection.

Check Control Center. Touch and hold the bottom of the screen, wait for Control Center to show, then swipe up. If you see or , you don't have a connection.

Tap in Control Center. If your devices are connected, your iPhone should make a "ping" sound.